Would it surprise you to learn that the U.S. government is the world's biggest purchaser of goods and services? Or that roughly 23% of spending goes toward small businesses?

And even though Uncle Sam spends approximately $150 billion a year in small-biz contracts, less than 1% of small business owners are actually engaged in the process.

Now, you might be thinking to yourself, “What on earth would the government want to buy from me?” Keep in mind their needs go beyond airplanes and weapons. We’re talking landscapers and painters and accountants and cybersecurity and more. It’s a vast amount of spending on just about anything you can think of.

So, how can you get a piece of the action?

Joining us on the show today is Richard Howard, Lt Col (Ret). He’s a leading authority on US federal government contracts. As a career military acquisitions officer, he oversaw $82B+ in DoD contracts and has advised & trained over 400 companies as a consultant. Richard is the CEO of DoD Contract, which guides, trains, and mentors small business owners and sales executives through the government sales process.

Word to the wise: Like most things in government, the process is slow, and don’t expect to make bank in a few weeks. But if you’re willing to play with the long game in mind, government contracts can be a lucrative - and largely unsaturated - market to build additional revenue streams with a buyer who you know is good for the cash.

Episode Highlights:

The number one thing the government is buying How a government contract increases the value of your business Security parameters when entering a contract How to “network” with the government How to find contracts for the services or products you’re selling How to find government contracts to sponsor product development

Favorite Quote:

“Your first job as a small business is to solve the problem of the government.”

Connect with Rick:

Dodcontract.com DOD Contract Acaedmy Podcast https://www.linkedin.com/in/rickychoward/

Stay Connected:

Connect with Matt and Luigi on Instagram:

@matthew.r.meehan

@luigi_rosabianca

@theLiquidLunchProject

@ShieldAdvisoryGroup.

Visit The Liquid Lunch Project website and subscribe to The Weekly, our Friday morning newsletter, for all the latest in the world of finance, tech, small business, and more.

www.theliquidlunchproject.com

Make sure you never miss an episode — check out The Liquid Lunch Project on Apple Podcasts, and don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and review.

What’s Next For Crypto After The FTX Scam? Alex Tapscott (Ninepoint Partners), Dean Skurka (WonderFi), and Dan Roberts (Decrypt)